§ 21. Mr. SNOWDENasked the Minister of National Service what is the present position, in relation to military service, of medical students of the various years of training; and whether all medical students taken into the Army are put into the Royal Army Medical Corps?
§ Mr. BECKThe present position of medical students in relation to military service is determined by National Service Instruction 35 of 1918, and Army Council Instruction 153 of 1918. Under the former, fit men who were at the date of the Instruction (5th March, 1918) full-time medical students at a recognised medical school, and who either had already passed the whole of the first professional examination in chemistry, physics and biology (or botany and zoology), or who are certified as being able to pass the whole of that examination on or before 31st July, 1918, are exempted from military service under certain conditions, firstly as to the efficient prosecution of their studies and, secondly, as to training in an officers' training corps. On completing their second examination, such students, if physically fit, are required to serve as surgeon probations in the Navy.
Students in Grade III., subject to similar provisions as to work and training, are not to be called up without reference to the Ministry of National Service as long as they remain full-time students.
Under Army Council Instruction 153 of 1918, men serving with the Colours, who had immediately prior to enlistment been whole-time medical students at a recognised medical school for at least six months and had passed the whole of the first professional examination, may on 1681 application be released from the Colours in order to resume their medical studies. Medical students who do not fulfil the conditions of exemption are posted to the Army in the ordinary way, and not necessarily to the R.A.M.C.